Gru.

Here's no knavery! see, to beguile the old folks, how the young folks lay their heads together. Master, look about you: who goes there? ha!

Hor.
Peace, Grumio, 'tis the Rival of my love.
Petruchio, stand by a while.

Gru.
A proper Stripling, and an amorous.—

Gre.
O, very well; I have perus'd the note.
Hark you, Sir, I'll have them very fairly bound,
All books of love; see That, at any hand;
And see, you read no other lectures to her;
You understand me—Over and beside
Signior Baptista's liberality,
I'll mend it with a largess. Take your papers too,
And let me have them very well perfum'd;
For she is sweeter than perfume itself,
To whom they go; what will you read to her?

Luc.
Whate'er I read to her, I'll plead for you,
As for my Patron, stand you so assured;
As firmly, as yourself were still in place;
Yea, and, perhaps, with more successful words
Than you, unless you were a scholar, Sir.

Gre.
Oh this learning, what a thing it is!

Gru.
O this woodcock, what an ass it is!—

Pet.

Peace, Sirrah.

Hor.

Grumio, mum! God save you, Signior Gremio.

Gre.

And you are well met, Signior Hortensio. Trow you, whither I am going? to Baptista Minola; I promis'd to enquire carefully about a school-master for the fair Bianca; and by good fortune I have lighted well on this young man, for Learning and Behaviour fit for her turn, well read in Poetry, and other books; good ones, I warrant ye.

Hor.
'Tis well; and I have met a gentleman,
Hath promis'd me to help me to another,
A fine musician to instruct our mistress;
So shall I no whit be behind in duty
To fair Bianca, so belov'd of me.

Gre.
Belov'd of me,—and that my deeds shall prove.

Gru.
And that his bags shall prove.

Hor.
Gremio, 'tis now no time to vent our love.
Listen to me; and, if you speak me fair,
I'll tell you news indifferent good for either.
Here is a Gentleman whom by chance I met,
Upon agreement from us to his liking,
Will undertake to woo curst Catharine;
Yea, and to marry her, if her dowry please.

Gre.
So said, so done, is well;—
Hortensio, have you told him all her faults?

Pet.
I know, she is an irksome brawling Scold;
If that be all, masters, I hear no harm.

Gre.
No, sayest me so, friend? what Countryman?

Pet.
Born in Verona, old Antonio's Son;
My Father's dead, my fortune lives for me,
And I do hope good days and long to see.

Gre.
Oh, Sir, such a life with such a wife were strange;
But if you have a stomach, to't, o'God's name;
You shall have me assisting you in all.
But will you wooe this wild cat?

Pet.
Will I live?

Gru.
Will he wooe her? ay, or I'll hang her.

Pet.
Why came I hither, but to that intent?
Think you, a little din can daunt my ears?

Have I not in my time heard lions roar?
Have I not heard the sea, puff'd up with winds,
Rage like an angry boar, chased with sweat?
Have I not heard great Ordnance in the field?
And heav'n's artillery thunder in the skies?
Have I not in a pitched battel heard
Loud larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets clangue6Q0108?
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue,
That gives not half so great a blow to th'ear^{3 note}

As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire?
Tush, tush, fear boys with bugs.

Gru.
For he fears none.—

Gre.
Hortensio, hark:
This Gentleman is happily arriv'd,
My mind presumes, for his own good, and ours.

Hor.
I promis'd, we would be contributors;
And bear his charge of wooing whatsoe'er.

Gre.
And so we will, provided that he win her.

Gru.
I would, I were as sure of a good dinner.

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